Easiest Cranberry Sauce

I use hyperbole often - "best" this, "crispiest" that, etc. But this is the easiest cranberry sauce ever. The Mr. and I spent Thanksgiving with our friends (and their family), who cooked up an epic feast for 20 people. An hour or so before the other guests were scheduled to arrive, we realized we did not have cranberry sauce. To say the stovetop was full would be an understatement - there was a pan bubbling or simmering on every available burner. What to do? Make the easiest cranberry sauce ever. NO POT REQUIRED. I know it sounds sacrilege, making cranberry sauce in the microwave, but trust me on this. This is the cranberry sauce I grew up on - this made an appearance at every holiday dinner (even Passover!) at my grandmother's house. But we don't restrict this to just holidays - it's incredible on "Thanksgiving sandwiches", in a panini, on ice cream - this is a year-round cranberry sauce (because it's that damn easy). So although the holiday season has come to a close, there's no reason you can't party on and enjoy some cranberry sauce anyway!

We discovered on Thanksgiving when we realized there was no cranberry juice in the house - what to do? We used orange juice, and it was great. I usually make this the night before I think I'll want it - it's fine in the fridge for a while. It takes an hour or two to set in the fridge, so make sure you make the sauce in advance of when you'll need it.

Easiest Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

12 oz fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained

1 scant cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup cranberry juice (or orange juice)

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Stir well.

Microwave on high for 5 minutes, take it out and stir it a bit, then microwave for another 5 minutes for a total of 10 minutes.

Immediately cover and place in fridge. Refrigerate until cold and set, an hour or two.

That's it. Easiest ever, right?! Almost as easy as opening a can of the gelatinous cranberry sauce goo, but sooooooo much (infinitely) tastier. Yum.